North Carolina National History Day students take top honors at national competition

RALEIGH — North Carolina students stood out among the 3,000 student competitors from the 50 states, several territories and four foreign countries. The National History Day Competition at the University of Maryland at College Park saw several North Carolina students as top 10 finishers. Two teachers also were recognized.

Caroline Murphy and Sydney Dye of Chapel Hill High School won first place in the senior group documentary category with their project, “Introducing America to Americans,” about the Farm Security Administration’s photography project during the Great Depression.

Jordyn Williams of J.H. Rose High School in Greenville received the David Van Tassel Founder Award for her senior division documentary about noted African-American chemist Percy Julian. The award carries a full academic scholarship to Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio, and is named for the founder of National History Day. It provides tuition to the institution where National History Day began. Her project was sixth in the nation.

Stepping out in the senior group performance category earned seventh place for Classical Scholars Home School in Hendersonville students Bayli Bayne, Bryson Bayne, Madison Belk, Sadie Bowen and Isabel Ward. Their project was titled “Bold, Brash and Political: Artists Explored the Use of Celebrity to Encounter Art in a Bold New Way and Its Impact on Consumerism.”

Skylar Holland of Wayne School of Engineering in Goldsboro received a medal for her individual performance focused on World War II American spy Virginia Hall. It was the outstanding state project in the junior division.

Dannis Cezarez and Melanie Irazzy of Surry County Early College in Dobson were chosen to display their group exhibit titled “Rocket Man Robert Goddard: Father of Modern Rocketry” at the Smithsonian Museum of American History June 15. Each state and territory chose one project to be on display for that day.

Teachers Chris Davis of John A. Holmes High School in Edenton and Tracie Below of Hope Middle School in Greenville received recognition as North Carolina’s Patricia Behring Teachers of the Year.

For 42 years, National History Day has recognized and rewarded students for completing in-depth research and creating original projects that further appreciation and understanding of history.

National History Day in North Carolina is administered by the N.C. Office of Archives, History & Parks and supported by the North Caroliniana Society, Federation of N.C. Historical Societies, N.C. Literary & Historical Associationand Sons of the Revolution.